Bottle carrier

ABSTRACT

A bottle is comprised of a centerboard and pockets attached to the centerboard on opposite sides thereof wherein the pockets have an open top, a generally peripheral semi-cylindrical side wall and an air passage in the bottom of the pocket. The pockets and the centerboard are fabricated from an elastomeric material so that a bottle may be snuggly inserted within the carrier. Two or more bottles are typically provided in pockets arranged on opposite sides of the centerboard of the carrier device.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In a principal aspect the present invention relates to a bottle carrierand more particularly, to a bottle carrier designed to carry two or morebottles, for example, glass bottles.

When attending recreational events, it is often desired to provideliquid refreshment retained in bottles. The bottles may be fabricatedfrom plastic and glass or other materials including clay or ceramics.Often it is desirable to provide two or more bottles for such an event.Packaging or carrying the bottles is often a challenging undertaking.That is, containers or cases which hold the bottles are often bulky andpotentially unsightly. Further, the bottles or containers may not beadequately protected. That is, they can be easily broken if thecontainer or carrier associated therewith is not adequately protective.

Thus, there has developed a need for an improved bottle carrier. Forexample, a bottle carrier which would be useful for easily carrying twoor more water bottles would be especially beneficial.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Briefly, the present invention comprises a bottle carrier which includesa centerboard or center element with a handle. The centerboard is agenerally planar member with first and second pockets arranged on oraffixed to the opposite sides of the centerboard. The pockets are eachconstructed from an elastomeric material and include a peripheral orlateral wall which is generally semi-cylindrical in shape and a bottomwall with an air passage so that when bottles are inserted into thepockets, air will not inhibit sliding placement of the bottle fullywithin the pocket. The elastic material forming the pockets facilitatesholding and gripping the bottles which are being carried in a safe orprotected manner. Two or more such pockets may be incorporated in abottle carrier of the type described.

Thus, it is an object of the invention to provide an improved bottlecarrier.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a bottle carrierwherein the bottles are snuggly held within pockets associated with thebottle carrier.

A further object of the invention is to provide a bottle carrier whichenables easy carriage of two or more bottles.

Another object of the invention is to provide an inexpensive, highlydurable and functional bottle carrier device.

These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention willbe set forth in the detailed description which follows.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

In the detailed description which follows, reference will be made to thedrawing comprised of the following figures:

FIG. 1 is an isometric view of the bottle carrier of the inventionfabricated for transport or carrying two bottles;

FIG. 2 is an isometric view similar to FIG. 1 wherein a portion of thetwo bottle carrier is depicted in a cut away view;

FIG. 3 is an isometric view illustrating the manner of placing a bottlein the bottle carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front plan view of the bottle carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 5 is a back plan view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 6 is a bottom view of the carrier of FIG. 1;

FIG. 7 is an isometric view of an alternative embodiment of theinvention for the purpose of carrying four separate bottles;

FIG. 8 is an isometric view wherein a portion of the four bottle carrierof FIG. 7 has been cut away to detail reconstruction;

FIG. 9 is an isometric view of the carrier of FIG. 7 depicting themanner of placing a bottle within the carrier; and

FIG. 10 is a front plan view of the carrier of FIG. 7.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring first to FIGS. 1-6, there is illustrated an embodiment of thecarrier of the invention designed to transport two bottles. The carrierthus has utility for the transport of wine bottles, milk bottles, waterbottles or the like. The carrier may be fabricated in any of a number ofdesired sizes and thus may be used with bottles or other containers ofmany sizes.

Referring therefore to the figures, the two bottle carrier constructionincludes a center board or element 20 which is a generally flat planarelongate member having an upper end 22, a lower end 24, a first lateralside 26 and a second lateral side 28. The lateral sides 26 and 28 aregenerally parallel and connect the edges of the upper and lower ends 22,24. In practice, the centerboard 20 may be fabricated from an outerlayer 30 of elastomeric fabric with a generally rigid or stiffpolypropylene board stiffening member 32 encapsulated by a secondelastomeric or fabric covering 34. The member 32 provides a means forrendering the center board generally rigid, particularly at the upperend 22, to facilitate the placement of bottles within the carrier andfor attachment to a handle 36. That is, the member 32 may beincorporated in upper end 22 only or throughout the length ofcenterboard 20.

A binding 38 is provided around the peripheral edges of the centerboard20. The binding 38 is thus sewn to effect assembly of the componentparts. Board 20 is preferably comprised of the outside layers 30 and 34and the member 32 at the upper end 22.

Affixed to the center board 20 on the opposite or front and back sidesthereof are first and second pockets 40 and 42, respectively. In theembodiment shown, each of the pockets 40 and 42 is substantiallyidentical in size and configuration. Each includes a generallysemi-cylindrical outer wall 44 and 46, respectively and a bottom wall 48and 50, respectively with at least one air passage 52 and 54,respectively through the bottom wall 48 and 50, respectively. The firstpocket 40 includes a downwardly depending or concave upper margin oredge 56 when the pocket is viewed in elevation, for example, asillustrated in FIG. 4. The edge 56 is secured in a manner to preventunraveling by means of a binding 60 which is sewn thereto. The pocket 40is affixed to the center board or backboard 28 by being sewn thereto,for example, by being attached by means of the binding 62. The secondpocket has a generally similar construction, size and shape.

An important feature of the invention is the material which is used forthe first pocket and second pocket 40 and 42. That material is anelastomeric material such as styrene butadiene rubber (SBR). The binding60 is also preferably slightly elastomeric. Thus, the pockets 40 and 42have the capacity to stretch somewhat.

As a result of the construction, a bottle 70 in FIG. 3, for example, mayslide into the pocket 40 and slightly stretch the material comprisingthe pocket 40 so as to be tightly held within the pocket 40. Similarly,a bottle (not shown) can be inserted into the pocket 42. The concavecurved rim or edge 56 facilitates the insertion of bottle 70 into thepocket 40. The air passage 52 enables air to flow from the pocket 40 asa bottle 70 is inserted therein inasmuch as the elastic material formingthe pocket 40 will tend to snuggly adhere to the bottle 70 and wouldotherwise tend to prevent insertion of the bottle into the pocket 40.However, air flow through the passage 52 ensures that the bottle 70 maybe easily inserted into the pocket 40.

It is to be noted that the centerboard 20 has an elongate configurationand is generally planar. However, the material used for the fabricationof the centerboard 20 may be identical to the material used for theconstruction of the first and second pockets 40 and 42. Thus, when abottle 70 is inserted into the pocket 40, for example, not only will theouter wall or lateral side wall 44 deform elastically to hold the bottle70 in place, but the centerboard 20 associated with the lateral wall 44forming the pocket 40 will also deform slightly. Preferentially, thepockets 40 and 42 are symmetrical and positioned on opposite sides ofthe centerboard 20. Further, a handle 36 is attached by sewing ortacking, for example, tacking 74 and 76 to the centerboard 20.

FIGS. 7-10 illustrate an alternative embodiment of the inventiondesigned for packaging and carrying four bottles. The construction isfrom the same materials as described with respect to the embodiment ofFIGS. 1-6. However, a centerboard 80 with a handle 82 attached theretoincludes an upper end 84 which preferably is made rigid or semi-rigid bymeans of an internal stiffening board (not shown). The lower section orlower region or remaining part of the center board 80 is adapted toreceive four pockets. First and second pockets 86 and 88 are thuspositioned on a front side of the board 80. Third and fourth pockets 90and 92 are positioned on the back or opposite side of the centerboard80. The construction is adapted to receive a bottle, for example, bottle98 which fits into a pocket 88 as depicted in FIG. 9. An air opening orair passage 100 is provided in a bottom wall 102 associated with thepocket 88. In a preferred embodiment, each of the pockets is a similarsize and shape and thus results in a very symmetrical arrangementwherein four bottles of generally equal size and configuration will beeasily carried and balanced by means of the bottle carrier of theinvention. Further, the lateral sides of the pockets are generallycomprised of material having an arcuate or generally semi-cylindricalform without passages for air flow. However, the lateral sides mayinclude openings or passages for air flow preferably near the bottom ofthe lateral sides. Thus, the elastomeric material provides multiplefunctions of insulating the carrier container, protecting the carriercontainer and transporting the container.

The utilization of elastomeric materials as described insures that thebottles will be kept tightly contained within the carrier. Further,because the elastomeric material is generally resilient, it serves aprotective function for the bottles within the carrier. Again, thebinding associated with the edges of the pockets, for example pocket 88,is fabricated from an elastic material which tends to retain thecontents of the carrier in a safe and secure position.

Many variations of the construction are possible. That is, the size ofeach of the pockets may be varied. The diameter of the pockets may bevaried. The shape of the pockets may be varied. The height of thepockets may be varied. The number of pockets mounted on a centerboard,both the front and back thereof may be varied. Thus, the invention is tobe limited only by the following claims and equivalents thereof. What isclaimed is:

1. A bottle carrier comprising, in combination: a centerboard having agenerally flat, planar configuration, a front side, a back side, a lowerend, an upper end, and first and second lateral sides generallyconnecting the lower end and upper end; a handle at the upper end formanual transport of the carrier; a reinforcing element generally at theupper end to maintain the generally flat planar configuration of thecenterboard generally at the upper end; a first pocket attached to thefront side of the centerboard between the first and second lateralsides, said first pocket including a bottom side, an open top, agenerally arcuate lateral side extending between the first and secondlateral sides; and an air passage generally at the bottom side of thefirst pocket; a second pocket attached to the backside of thecenterboard, said second pocket including a bottom side, an open top, agenerally arcuate lateral side extending between the first and secondlateral sides, and an air passage generally at the bottom side of thesecond pocket, at least one of said first and second pockets formed froma generally elastomeric material whereby a bottle inserted into saidpocket is engaged by the elastomeric material and snuggly held againstthe centerboard.
 2. The carrier of claim 1 wherein the first and secondpockets are generally of equal size.
 3. The carrier of claim 1 whereinat least a part of the centerboard is formed of the same elastomericmaterial as one of said pockets.
 4. The carrier of claim 1 wherein thefirst and second pockets are formed of an elastomeric material.
 5. Thecarrier of claim 1 wherein at least the front side of the centerboardincludes at least two pockets in side by side array, each of saidpockets comprising an elastomeric material and each of said two pocketsincluding a bottom side with an air passage.
 6. The carrier of claim 1wherein the first pocket and the second pocket are each formed from thesame elastomeric material.
 7. The carrier of claim 1 wherein at leastone of side pockets includes an upper margin which comprises a concavecurve depending downwardly from the upper end of the centerboard.
 8. Thecarrier of claim 1 wherein the elastomeric material comprises styrenebutadiene rubber.